recommendations 33
ers are not sufficiently trained on how to manage individual and family stress (Adler et al.,
2008). Consequently, efforts should be bolstered to raise awareness
of available support services, including mental health services, chaplains,
peer networks, and information websites
(e.g., Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
ConclusionStress is a common element in military careers, especially for those who operate outside the wire. Conventional wisdom suggests that individuals who are selected and succeed in these careers have an inherent ability to withstand stress. Indeed, cognitive ability and certain personality
traits have been found, in some contexts, to facilitate performance under stress. However, we also find sufficient evidence that individuals can be trained to minimize the adverse effects of stress on performance. The incorporation of these training techniques, used by the Army and Navy to promote the development
of their special operators, would be expected to positively affect the mission readiness of battlefield airmen in several ways, including enhanced performance under stress, reduced attrition
during initial skills training, and increased retention.
